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“I’m your father every day, Brody. The job never ends. It certainly doesn’t take a day off. Tell me what’s happened.”
I stand to look out the window. I take a long breath. “I fell for a student of mine.” I turn back to him, fearful of a disappointed look on his face.
He brings his lips together. “I see. Is that why you left Philadelphia? They found out and forced you to leave?”
“No. Nothing scandalous like that. It ended before it really ever started. She ended it because of our precarious position. No one knew about us. I just can’t bearoundher and not bewithher.”
“I hate to say it, but she’s right. She sounds smart.”
“She’s the smartest woman I’ve ever met. That’s half of the appeal.”
He chuckles. “Half, huh?”
I roll my eyes. “It doesn’t hurt that she’s also the most stunning woman I’ve ever seen.”
“I see. She won’t be your student forever.”
“That’s not how she sees it. She believes that if we were ever to date, her integrity regarding her time as my student would be called into question. Part of me understands it, and part of me doesn’t.”
He stands and puts his hand on my shoulder. “Brody, have you ever heard the story of how your mother and I met?”
“Only that you were friends for a long time before you got together.”
“That’s true, but did you know that she was engaged to marry Uncle Max?” Max is Dad’s best friend from childhood.
I’m surprised to hear it. “No, I didn’t know that.”
“Yes, they were engaged. I always had feelings for her, but she was with Max, and that was the end of it. At some point, she knew things weren’t right between them and she broke it off. It was messy for a while. They both separately cried on my shoulder.”
He walks around the room as if deep in thought. “After a few months, I told her about my feelings. She told me that she returned those feelings, but wouldn’t ever do that to Max. Neither of us saw a way to be together without hurting him, so we decided that we wouldn’t pursue a relationship.”
“We waited another year, but our feelings never waned. I decided to have a man-to-man talk with Uncle Max. He was upset but appreciated that we were forthcoming and spoke with him before acting on our feelings. He had met Aunt Rene by then. Eventually, he came to accept our relationship.”
He gives me a sympathetic smile. “Brody, if we approached him earlier, it would have been a mess. But timing sometimes matters. Perspectives change. Priorities change. Circumstances change. Take it from an old man who’s been around the block a few times. People change over time. Opinions and feelings change over time. Things that we think we care about change over time. Just give it that time, Brody. If both of your feelings remain strong after this thing in Sweden, you’ll go back and fight for what you want. Maybe she’ll be ready for you then. Maybe you’ll make her see why love is sometimes worth the risk.”
* * *
I’m alonein a café in Stockholm. I’ve enjoyed the past few months here. Everyone in the clinic is nice. There are several single people, so we all go out together in a big group.
The women here are certainly beautiful, but none as beautiful as Harley Lawrence. I still can’t get her out of my mind. It’s early though. I probably just need a little more distance.
I’m sipping my coffee when I receive a text notification.
Harley: Hey Brody. It’s been a few months. I hope that Sweden is treating you well and that you’re settled in. It’s the first day of my third year. It made me think of the first day last year when you walked into the classroom. I nearly had a heart attack. :) Anyway, just thinking of you. Thought I’d say a quick hello.
I’m frozen. I didn’t think I’d hear from her ever again. All of the emotions of letting her go come flooding back to me. I type out twelve different responses, but ultimately send none of them. I can’t.
* * *
ONE YEAR LATER
I’m out at a club with Mikael. He has become my closest friend in Sweden. He’s a doctor at the clinic, though he lives here permanently. He’s been good for me. He likes to go out several nights a week. Most of the time, he’s able to get me to come with him.
We’re both dancing with beautiful women. The woman dancing with me certainly seems interested. She’s draped all over me.
I’m a million miles away though. As much as I’ve tried, I can’t get Harley out of my mind. When you find perfection, the woman who was seemingly designed for you, it’s nearly impossible to move on. It’s nearly impossible to even feign interest in other women. I thought time and distance would make letting her go easier. It hasn’t. It’s only made me realize that I will never find anyone like her.
Dad’s words play over and over in my head. Will there be a time that her reservations fade away? It’s almost worse that he mentioned it to me. It’s given me a sliver of hope.
